Wow, another update?! IT'S A HALLOWEEN SPECIAL FOR HALLOWEEN 2016! Can't wait for you guys to read this - pretty please, review?

Thank you for all your reviews for the last few chapters!

Eloi22: I hope you enjoy this chapter where Lucas starts showing his feelings! I can't wait for them to kiss!

Miraculous Fanatic: Wow, you're such a sweetie! I love you x

NoGoodNameisLeft: I am sorry for leaving for so long! I hope this spam of chapters makes up for it x I am DEFINITELY going to finish this story eventually, although I might be very busy this year with school and personal things. But I have a couple of chapters planned ahead so don't worry!

On with the story!

Chapter 10

"Maya, you know you've got him whipped."

She shrugged casually, though she was secretly pleased at Zay's words. If Lucas's best mate thought she was getting to him, her strategies must be working. She, Zay and Missy were hanging out after school at Missy's house. Over the past week or so, both Lucas's and Maya's friend groups had quickly gotten close and merged to form one big clique: Lucas, Maya, Zay, Missy, Billy, Bree and Riley. "Heaven's Seven," Riley had giggled jokingly while Maya herself came up with "The Seven Wonders of the World". But she was happy to be settling in so well and was actually beginning to enjoy her new life. It didn't hurt that the bet was really boosting her confidence, every girl in school wanted to be her and every guy wanted her, her friendship group were what people were calling 'squad goals', and playing her little game with Lucas gave her a thrill every time he looked at her. The universe, it seemed, was finally being kind to Maya Hart.

"You should've been there when Lucas told me about what you did to him last week. He said he'd never masturbated so much in one evening before –"

"Okay, okay, Zay! I get it, spare me the gross details."

"He also let it slip that he thinks you're very beautiful."

"So? That doesn't mean anything, he finds most girls attractive, and he just uses compliments to manipulate them. He called me beautiful to my face, but I didn't fall for it."

Zay shook his head. "Nah. Yeah, he tells girls they're beautiful. But he's never talked to me about any of them, let alone prattled on about how gorgeous they are... Probably forgot about them as soon as he got bored. But he called you 'Blonde Beauty', Maya. I'm telling you, I was shocked. Not only has he never had real feelings for a girl before, he'd never let his guard down. He'd never let people think he actually cared."

"It seems suspicious. I've only been here about four weeks. How can I have had such a strong effect on him?"

"You've had a strong effect on everyone, Maya," he chuckled. "But not even Lucas can resist your charm. I think he's finally met his match and he doesn't know how to stop himself from falling for you."

Missy piped up, "Hey, Maya – what are you going as for Billy's big Halloween party this weekend?"

"Umm… myself?"

Missy looked horrified, and then she and Zay shared a meaningful look.

"No way! You have to wear a costume. Can I help? Pretty please? This is the one time of the year where you can wear practically nothing to a social event and still be seen as classy!" Missy put her hands together, her eyes wide and hopeful.

Zay chipped in, "Yeah, Maya. You should use this opportunity to commence the next step of your Plan of Seduction. Everyone will be there, drunk as hell; every guy will be all over you. Firstly, perfect time to grab Lucas's attention. Secondly, perfect opportunity to get with another guy and make Lucas jealous. And thirdly, perfect opportunity for us all to stay over at Billy's – including you and Lucas. You can even play the part of the drunk girl who's too smashed to get into her pyjamas…"

Maya sighed. "You guys are fucking evil."

For once, Lucas wasn't using his 'tactic' of ignoring Maya whenever they had a moment together. He couldn't really, since they were a part of the same clique. He didn't mention what had happened between them at his house, but for the rest of the week there was a stronger, inaudible charged tension between him and Maya. She constantly teased him, and he constantly infuriated her, but there was no denying the truth: they were actually becoming friends. She had Zay to thank for bringing her and the girls into their friend group, but she and Lucas were beginning to have more and more meaningful conversations – and she knew for a fact that there was no other girl he talked to as much as her. She was the one he came to for playful banter when he was stressed; she was the first one he told when he won a big football match; they'd even have conversations about their favourite baseball team. When she fell asleep in class, he would catch her without even having to think about it. It happened so subtly she barely even noticed, but word was going around: the gorgeous blonde beauty and the perfect handsome jock were friends.

Lucas seemed to respect her for not letting him get into her pants in the first week. And the fact that she was bold enough to stand up to him, and her fierce defensiveness and quick wit. To be honest, he was growing on her. It was no longer just about the bet. She enjoyed spending time with him and his dumb half-smirk no longer repulsed her; she was almost exasperatingly fond of it.

"Hey little Strawberry Shortcake." Lucas sat down in the seat next to her as the students filed in for Chemistry class. "You're coming to Billy's, right?"

"Wouldn't miss it, Huckleberry. My first Texas house party better be good."

He smirked at her. "It will be. He's invited, like, three hundred people."

"What are you going as then, Ranger Rick? Huckleberry Finn? A rodeo star from the freaking Wild Wild West?"

"Haha. You're hilarious." He tapped her nose. "But I'm going to surprise you."

"Fine, play that game. Then I'm not telling you either."

"Whatever. Are you staying over afterwards?" He waggled his eyebrows; Maya stifled a giggle.

"Shut up. And yes, I don't have a car and I'm not taking a half hour walk home drunk."

"I bet you can't even handle your liquor," he scoffed.

"I bet I can handle it better than you!" she said heatedly, swatting at his arm.

"Really? Wanna make it a bet?"

She eyed him warily. It wasn't a fair contest, and she knew it: Lucas was a head taller than her and almost twice as wide. Every part of his body was muscular. She, on the other hand, was tiny in both height and figure.

But Maya Hart was stubborn.

"Fine, we'll play a drinking game this weekend then. One on one."

Lucas's smirk widened. "What's the incentive?"

"The incentive…" Maya's eyes sparkled. "A game of truth. Every time you refuse to answer, you take a shot. And you take off a piece of clothing."

They stared at each other for a long moment. "Okay," said Lucas. "Deal."

"Okay, Maya, you can open your eyes now!"

Maya rolled her eyes beneath her closed eyelids. The girls had bought her costume for her, and wouldn't let her see it. Literally, they wouldn't even let her put it on herself, and instead had blindfolded her while all three tried to pull clothes over her head in fits of giggles.

But when she opened her eyes, she was not disappointed. She'd been dressed in a red lacy strapless leotard that was so tight it clung to her curves and barely covered her chest; a tiny red tutu that was only there for the look and didn't actually cover her butt at all, scarlet fishnet stockings, heeled pumps, and, the cherry on the top, a headband with little devil horns sprouting out of her blonde curls. Missy had done her makeup in a way that made her look both sexy and innocent with a crimson lip tint and bronze eyeshadow.

"Red looks good on you," Bree nodded approvingly.

"Very funny, guys. Dressing me up as a devil? Real original…"

"Shut up, Peaches. You look like fire. We are going to take so many photos!"

"Yeah, I literally look like I'm flaming…" She glanced down at her entirely crimson ensemble.

"Don't be a downer! It looks great with your hair. And anything looks great on that ass…"

"So…" Maya yawned and stretched, plonking herself down on Missy's bed. "Anyone got their eye on a particular guy tonight?"

Missy giggled, "I actually really like Zay. He's so funny and honest; he and Lucas are practically polar opposites. Do you think he would go for me?"

Maya beamed, "I knew it! You and him have been hanging out a lot lately. He'd definitely go for you. Tonight is, like, the perfect opportunity to get with him."

"Nah, tonight's all about you, Maya! We're going to make you the most desirable girl in school, not that you aren't already. But I am so looking forward to your strip-slash-drinking game with Mr Perfect…"

"Ughhh. Please just go off and make out with Zay."

"I NEED TO FILM YOU AND LUCAS MAKING OUT –"

"Anyway," Maya brushed her off, "Riley? Bree? Anyone you guys want to get with tonight?"

"Well, Billy's pretty cute," Bree said offhandedly. "I don't know him that well, but he's on my list…"

Riley burst into a fit of giggles. "Your list has, like, thirty people on it."

"So? There are a lot of attractive guys around here!"

"I haven't really got my eye on anyone… someone set me up!" squealed Riley, still laughing as Bree stuck her tongue out and shoved her with her foot.

"We'll find you someone, sunshine. Who wouldn't love you?"

Riley was dressed as the pretty angel to Maya's devil, looking every bit the picture of sweetness and innocence in a slinky white number and wings on her back. Bree had gone for some kind of space girl look, with a metallic outfit, fake pistols and silver paint all over her body. Missy looked stunning with her vampire fangs, red contacts and fake blood dripping down her neck.

"We are killing it, guys. Selfie!"

Maya groaned, but even she couldn't stop herself from smiling as they got ready to leave for the party.

"Wow. You really go all out in Texas, don't you?" Maya looked around as she idly held her red cup, swishing the contents around.

It was just as well Billy had a reasonably big house with a garden that, in comparison to Maya's New York apartment, looked to her like a freaking meadow. People were starting to show up now, in crowds, and the room was filling quickly. There was a nervous, tingly feeling in her stomach as her eyes searched for a certain Huckleberry Friar. She needed to loosen up a bit. She hated beer; where the hell was the good stuff?

"Billy," she yelled over the music, "do you have anything… stronger than this?"

Billy opened his mouth, but before he could reply, Zay swooped in and grabbed the cup right out of Maya's hand. "Hey!"

"No, Maya, you've got to save some room in there for your little game with Lucas, remember? If you get hammered now, you're going to lose, dumb bitch," he fluffed up her hair fondly. "He's over there, look, leaning against the doorframe, the fucking git. Don't go up to him immediately… dance with me?" He winked charmingly, and smiled with his overly pearly teeth.

"Sure." She let Zay take her hand and guide her onto the dance floor. He was a good dancer, but she was better, shaking her butt and twirling effortlessly around him, her movements smooth and confident.

"Don't look at Lucas," Zay muttered, leaning closer into Maya so that her curls bounced into his face. "He's got his eyes on you, and only you. Play hard to get tonight."

"Not a problem." It was getting hotter inside with all the people dancing. Her face was glowing; her cheeks tinged pink. She knew she looked good from all the interested glances she was getting. She smiled, and spun Zay over to Missy. "Hey, Zay, I'm going to go have some fun."

And she did. She was basically the centre of attention, every pair of eyes drawn to her as she flaunted her body, dancing on tables, laughing and singing loudly, and then swinging upside-down on the staircase bannister, swaying her hips. She took over the microphone for the karaoke machine several times, belting out tunes while standing up on the table, while boys admired her and girls cheered her on.

She didn't even know how much alcohol she'd had, because she'd been constantly offered swigs of random people's bottles of mysterious liquids that seared her fucking throat like she was swallowing knives. Whoops, sorry Zay.

How long had it been since she had last seen Zay? And where was Lucas? Catching sight of Riley, she walked over to her. She was talking to a guy who had been staring, intrigued, at Maya for the past five minutes.

"Hey Riles. Who's this?" She flashed him her most dazzling smile. "Your new fling?"

Riley laughed, "No way, oh my god! This is my uncle, Josh. Josh, this is my best friend Maya. She's from New York; she just moved here."

"Maya." Josh took her hand, his eyes never leaving hers. "You look gorgeous tonight, Maya."

He was handsome, in a different way to Lucas's perfect but dark features; he was cute, sweet-looking and brunette, like Riley. But she loved the way he was saying her name.

"Nice to meet you, Josh." Her smile grew wider and more enticing as she drew him in, tugging him to the wall, pushing him against it. "Do you always stare at random girls you don't know? It's a form of harassment, you know," she joked.

"Only if they're so gorgeous I have to be sure they're even real…" he murmured, pinned by her small body to the wall, looking so into her she almost felt bad for using him.

"Smooth, boy. Nice touch." He had his hands on her waist now, his eyes alight with lust.

"Just so you know, I think you're adorable, Maya –"

"You've mentioned." She playfully leaned closer into him, touching his bottom lip with her finger.

"– but do you happen to have a boyfriend? Because there's some guy over there looking at you with steam practically coming out of his ears…"

"Is there?" Her heart leapt with adrenaline, but she hid it well as she glanced carelessly over her shoulder. Sure enough, Lucas was standing across the room from them, plastic cup gripped tightly in his hand, his expression dark and stony, looking as though he were wishing he could crush Josh as easily as the cup. "Oh, him. Don't worry, he's not my boyfriend."

"Are you sure? How could a girl like you not have a boyfriend?" Josh winked cheekily at her.

"Shut up, handsome." And she pulled him down roughly by the collar to press her lips to his – he tasted like warm mulled cider and cinnamon. She tugged on his bottom lip with her teeth…

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Damn, Lucas moved fast with his annoyingly long legs. Irritated, Maya shoved Josh away – although he was still so entranced he didn't seem to notice – and turned to face Lucas, one eyebrow raised.

"Huckleberry –"

"I'm not talking to you," he ground out, barely looking at her, his eyes latched onto Josh's with a venomous expression. In an instant, he had him pinned to the wall, their noses inches apart, his glare evident in his blazing green eyes. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Woah, dude, I'm sorry, she told me she didn't have a boyfriend –"

"I don't," said Maya, crossing her arms. Lucas ignored her.

"I don't give a shit, you don't touch her. Who knows where your hands have been? It's disgusting, and sickening, and I know you're three years older – what are you, a pervert? You must have a pretty sad life going to high-school parties when you're in college. What makes you think you can just waltz in and take the prettiest girl here? Huh? Don't even try to explain yourself, I don't give a shit. Just get the fuck out of here."

"If you must know, I'm Riley's uncle! And she invited me," Josh said indignantly. "Let go of me, dude. You've got anger issues."

"You could be David fucking Beckham for all I care. Touch Maya, and you'll never be able to see anyone again. I'll fucking blind you if you do anything –"

"Lucas! Let him go, for God's sake, you're causing a scene."

A crowd had gathered around them, watching the show with interest and awe. Lucas Friar, actually defending a girl? Amongst the crowd, Zay's grin was the widest.

Maya tugged on Lucas's sleeve. "Calm down, Lucas." Without taking his eyes off Josh, he let her wrench him off of him. "Jesus Christ, what's gotten into you? I'm not your girlfriend."

Her words seemed to bring Lucas back down to earth and majorly piss him off at the same time. Distractedly, he ran a hand through his hair, and then countered Maya's look with an equally contemptuous glower. "Maya, you don't even know what you're doing. I'm just trying to protect you –"

"I don't need your damn protection!" Suddenly, Maya felt too hot. The lights were flashing too brightly. She felt dizzy and sick, swaying a little before reflexively grabbing onto Lucas's arm to steady herself. He didn't get it. She didn't need protection from one stupid, meaningless hook up. She needed protection from her emotions. She needed protection from people who inevitably left her. Hooking up with a stranger was probably the last thing she needed protecting from. It was one of the only things that gave her an adrenaline rush without the burden of catching feelings.

"Maya?" Lucas's worried face peered down at her. "Oh, God. Let's get you sitting down."

But all she could see were the unfamiliar faces intrusively ogling her, crowding around them… she couldn't fucking breathe. Lucas looked increasingly livid as he tried to push his way through the mob. "Fucksake," he muttered, before, without warning, scooping Maya into his arms and striding quickly and powerfully out of the room.

"Lucas… I… can't… breathe…" She clung to him like a child in a storm.

"Hold on, babe." His voice sounded far away. And then he was placing her onto a soft bed with clean, fragrant sheets, which she snuggled into gratefully, sighing.

"Maya… are you okay?" He sat down next to her on the bed, his hand gently touching her forehead.

"Yeah. Just a little overwhelmed."

There was an awkward pause in which the silence was too loud; nothing could be heard aside from the thumping of the music going on downstairs and Maya's heavy breathing.

"Maya?"

"Yes?"

Another pause.

"I'm sorry."

She looked up at him warily. "For what?"

"Look, I was just trying to protect you from that creep… I wasn't trying to hurt you. Or cause a scene. And I wasn't even jealous…"

"Right."

In the dim light, she could just make out Lucas's face looming over her. She hadn't even noticed his costume until now.

"James Bond? You're so boring."

He blinked. "What! Bond is badass."

"Yeah, but you aren't."

"Hey!"

"You're literally wearing a suit with some fake guns strapped to your belt, Mr Huckleberry Bond. Points to you for the idea, but none for effort."

"I thought you would like it."

"Um, why?"

"I don't know, you just seem to be into danger and adventure, that's all."

Was it just her, or did he look a little disappointed?

Maya chewed her lip thoughtfully. "You don't have to be sorry, Huckleberry."

"Huh?"

"About going crazy on Josh. It's nice to know that you care."

"Yeah, well," he said gruffly, "Only because you're new here and you're, well, tiny, and, um, I need my partner in Chemistry or I'm going to fail this semester!" he blurted out.

Maya almost laughed at his adorable defensiveness. "Thanks, Ranger Rick."

"You also look… very provocative today. Didn't want you to be taken advantage of."

She raised an eyebrow, "Isn't that what you do to girls, like, every day?"

His gaze softened. "Never to you."

This was it. He was letting his guard down, and Maya had recovered enough from her dizzy spell to know that this was her chance to draw him in deeper. She shouldn't have reacted so strongly to his jealousy; she should have played it cool. She needed to stop letting her feelings get the better of her.

"Lucas…" she whispered, reaching out to tug his neat white shirt, pulling him down to her face. "You and I are more similar than we like to admit, don't you think?"

His eyes smouldered. "Hmm? How so?"

"I shut people out, I build walls around myself. So do you. I don't like letting people in, because they never fucking stay. I'm not the kind of girl that can get anyone to stay. I don't like to get my hopes up. Hell, I don't even understand hope. I've never had it. And I don't know about your weirdass manwhore player complex, but back in New York, I used to use countless physical relationships to try and fill the hole in my heart that my dad left there."

He was looking at her with an unreadable expression.

She knew he was suspicious as to why she was suddenly pouring her heart out to him, but it was a calculated move on her part. Trying to seem vulnerable. Trying to make him think he knew who she was, when really, he didn't have a clue.

She patted the bed. "Come on, Huckleberry, let's chat properly."

He eyed her suspiciously, but relented, climbing under the covers next to her. Then he winced.

"Your tutu is scratchy."

"Your suit is too formal."

"Too formal?"

"Who the fuck lays in bed in a suit?"

"Fine. I guess we didn't really get the chance to play our little drinking game…"

"Fine, but no funny business, okay? This is just because I don't want my body pressed against your uncomfortable clothes for the whole night." Lucas rolled his eyes at her words, but relented. Five minutes later, Maya had wriggled out of her clothes and was left in Riley's matching red underwear. Lucas was clad in only his boxers.

"This is not going to look good in the morning."

"Shut up," Lucas said, wrapping his arms around her and tucking his head into the crook of her neck. "Have I ever mentioned that you're beautiful?"

"I'll be frozen to death if you keep hogging the blanket to your side."

It had just sunk in that she was freaking cuddling with Lucas. The fuckboy and the rebel. She prayed that rumours wouldn't be spreading like wildfire the next day.

"So… wanna tell me why you almost fainted tonight?" Lucas's eyelashes were fluttering closed against her neck, his words muffled in her shoulder. She shivered.

"Um, did you forget what you did?"

"Doesn't explain your reaction."

"You thought I needed protecting from a damn hook up… that's a fucking joke. You know what I really need protecting from? Gits like you who pretend to care and then skip off when the damage is done." She inhaled and exhaled sharply, feeling Lucas frown against her skin.

"Maya."

She turned her body so that she was facing him, her head slightly below his, her stomach pressed up against his, her hands around his chest. "Yes."

"You're really fucking special. And I mean that… you are. And not everyone deserves someone like you in their life, especially not perverted college dickheads who think they're good enough for you. I don't want you to do something you'll regret."

She looked up and, for a long moment, held his gaze with softer eyes than usual.

"Thank you, Lucas. But don't say things like that when I know you'll leave me in a heartbeat when you get bored of me. You're such a massive liar. I know you've just got some dumb need for power and validation of your masculinity or some shit. You want to be king. You want to be the first one to sleep with the new girl. Am I correct?"

He was so close, his breath stirred the wisps of blonde hair falling over her cheeks.

He opened his mouth, and then closed it. If she had not been tucked into his chest, too low down to properly see his face, then she would have seen his expression harden and close up. But she didn't.

"Yep," he said, with an air of arrogant boredom. "You're right. Just wanted a quick fuck, but whatever. You're so fucking uptight you're just getting on my nerves now. No wonder you're so insecure about yourself."

He stood up, grabbed the pile of his clothing, and walked straight out of the room.

PLEASE REVIEW THIS CHAPTER BECAUSE I PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO IT!

I wrote a super long chapter for you - 4500 words! That's over double the length of my usual chapters!

The next chapter will be about the morning after the party: the clique stayed over at Billy's and SPOILER Lucas and Maya have some awkward tension in the bathroom... I'm writing it now but can we get 15 reviews for this chapter? If so, I will totally post it, hehe X